Vixenwriter

Let’s see…I’m getting ready to go to Lori Foster’s Reader Author Get Together next weekend. I’ve never been so I’m really excited about it. I get to finally meet Barb and Pam in addition to many other authors and readers I’ve known online forever so that’ll be wonderful. I also get to see the ever-so-wonderful Anya Bast, who I just love to death and I haven’t seen her since October so I can’t wait! I’ll be at the book signing on Saturday, June 2 from 4 - 6 at the hotel (Cincinnati Marriot North) so come by and say hello if you’re in the area! If you’re attending the get together, please find me and say hello!

I’m blogging my reads in the 10,000 books challenge at eharlequin. I did a count a few days ago but every day I remember other books I’ve read. I should keep better track, LOL. I think blogging them will help me do that. I did make a personal decision not to blog the books I hate. Yes, yes I know some people get shirty about that and I’m sure I’ll be accused of something or other because of it, but it’s a personal decision. Generally, I don’t want to spend time on books I hated over books I love. Now I will talk about books I enjoyed but may have had flaws. But I have my share of wallbangers too, god knows I have preferences just like anyone else. Still, I think I’d rather talk about books I want everyone to read instead of books I didn’t like. I bitch enough without that.

It’s a long weekend, yay! I hope it means a lot of writing but in truth it most likely means breaking up a lot of inter-sibling bickering, laundry and the cleaning of bathrooms.

Ascension will be out in less than two weeks! Whee! And then Making Chase on the 12th! It’s going to be a really good June.

I’m reading Gennita Low’s Virtually His, nearly done as a matter of fact and it’s so good! It’s also movie night for me and my dude.

Okay, off to clean the kitchen…

OH! Anya Bast’s Witch Fire is starting to show up in some bookstores! This is such a fabulous book and Anya is one of my favorite authors so you should go and grab it. If you like paranormal romance, magick, really hot chemistry, sexy heroes and smart heroines - this is the book for you. I’ll be reviewing it later in the week along with an interview with Anya as well.

As you can see, Frauke finished with the installation of the new website template and she did a fabulous job! I can’t tell you all how much I love her work. Every single project she’s ever done for me has turned out marvelously. Croco Designs is now her full time job and I can tell you, if she’s got an opening, grab it. You won’t be disappointed in her work.

I’m going to be running a contest - I’ll choose two winners at random from all the comments (from today’s entry until Friday afternoon at 3 pm pacific) who’ll win a copy of any of my available titles, including paper.

The last part is a bad combination of words. I’d feel bad for cussing, but, well I don’t. Sigh.

The best thing about today is that my husband is coming home from his business trip. He’s been gone almost all week. I hate when he’s gone. It’s hard to sleep when he’s not here and the kids are wilder than normal too. And I like talking to him and snuggling with him. Plus he spoils me and he smells good.

I usually do book talk on Fridays but the truth is, I haven’t read much lately because I’ve been editing and revising, stressing and cleaning up chocolate powder and then my boys’ bathroom. Seriously, their packages are not that big in comparison to the size of the toilet bowl, how hard is it to hit the target? Gah!

But I have managed to get about halfway through Eileen Wilks’ Blood Lines and it’s so GOOOOOOD! I love the world she’s created with this series, creative, unique and Rule? Oh man, is he like the most fabulous hero or what? I love how she’s got multiple storylines but I never feel cheated or confused. Takes a skillful hand to do that. Anyway, when I finish up, I’ll do a review here.

Oh! But a lovely bright spot in my week? I won an ARC from Alison Kent of her upcoming book The Perfect Stranger wooo! Not getting gushy here so she won’t think I’m a stalker or anything, but I’m a big fan so this is very cool.

How is everyone today? It’s coooold! It started out at 50 and now it’s 38. They’re expecting snow tonight, more snow tomorrow including “thundersnow” Thunder snow? Jeebus! It’s usually so mild here but it’s been like, “TERROR WINTER!!!” Um, no thank you. I’ll take 50 and rainy please. My husband says it’s already snowing at his office.

I’m so so close to finishing my revision on Blood Moon. Like eight pages away. But a complicated sex scene snuck up on me as I was finishing last night. Oops. This couple is, well, they can’t keep their hands off each other but this last big scene is a menage of sorts. Well, not of sorts, it is a menage but anyway, you’ll see when you read it.

My two year old drew on her teeth with markers. Yes, she now looks like a prospector, complete with crazy hair. I wet it, put it up in a cute pony tail, she coos and pulls it down ten minutes later. I did hold her down and brush the ink away but her lips are still black. Mother of the year, people, I tell ya.

I heard the Pearl Jam cover of Love Reign O’er Me (The Who) and hooooley shite! I believe it’s my favorite cover ever and I need to buy it so I can listen to it until I hate it. Ed’s voice sounds so good. And I love Pearl Jam, I do, ask anyone who knows me. But their website sucks. Is there any info about the cover on it anywhere? No. They did a revamp of it last year and it’s a thousand times better than it was before, but it still sucks. You know, um, actual news is good, LOL.

Okay, I’ve babbled enough for now. I’ve put up excerpts of Chased and Sword and Crown at my messageboard if you want to go and check em out!

2006 has been an amazing year for me. Probably the best year of my entire life. 2005 was hard, lots of high highs and very low lows but 2006 I think was the year I finally hit my stride and met a lot of goals I had for myself.

January - I spent a lot of time recovering from the end of 2005, LOL. I got a new website design from the most incredible Frauke and Croco Designs. I sent out Giving Chase to Samhain, got a cover for Sleight of Hand.

February - Sleight of Hand released from Whispers - my first release of 2006 and my first novella! I hit the first major block in writing Threat of Darkness (way back then) and I worked on Tri Mates.

March - went to Las Vegas with Megan and Anya and had such a great time. Celebrated Megan’s book deal with Spice, Anya landed an agent and shortly thereafter I did too. It’s been a very good year for the Mavericks! Got the idea for GWAB.

April - Cascadia Wolves: Enforcer released from EC. Tri Mates is contracted. I sent in Thrice United to my editor as well. Got some pretty covers as well.

May - Offered contracts on Thrice Bound and Reluctant. Got edits on multiple books. Finished Sword and Crown

June - Giving Chase releases! Sudden Desire releases - both are new arenas for me - romantic suspense and a contemporary quickie - both did very well but Giving Chase did so well it renewed my confidence. Anya Bast sold two books to Berkley - Witch Fire comes out in June of 07! Taking Chase was contracted.

July - my hard drive died and I lost pictures of my children. Oh that sucked! I wrote and wrote and wrote.

August - Vengeance Due released. I took my first solo vacation with my husband in over a decade - to Las Vegas. Got the idea for Stripped. Dealt with the death of our hard drive, took a family vacation. My four year old turned 5, my 1 year old turned 2. My agent hooked me up with Jodi Lynn Copeland and Anya Bast to pitch a Vegas themed anthology and I start writing Stripped.

September - Reluctant releases. I get deep into writing and editing. My agent pitches the What Happens in Vegas anthology and Goddess With a Blade.

October - Threat of Darkness and I continue to be at odds. I pick it up and put it down several times. Finally, at month’s end, I figure out the problem and finish up in relative ease and get it to my editor. Did edits for Sword and Crown and Taking Chase.

November - Tri Mates releases and I find out Thrice United will also release. On the same day Taking Chase releases. November was a very, very busy month. I SOLD STRIPPED TO HARLEQUIN SPICE! I sold Ascension and Threat of Darkness to EC and I got started on Chased. All told, I wrote right about 90K words in the month of November between original wip, edits, etc. November was a month that was incredibly productive and also gave me so much to be thankful for. It fueled me and got me back on track.

December - Finished Chased, finished a revision of Enclave - crits, more revision, off to editor and agent. Nearly done with partial of The Others, started revision of the next book after Ascension that is currently without a title. Wonderful holidays with my friends and family. Three CAPA nominations.

All in all, I’ve got a whole hell of a lot to be thankful and grateful for. Yes, I have worked damned hard, but without my family, without my readers and my friends, without my editors and my agent who all believe in me and support me - I don’t know where I’d be, but not here, looking back at a year of wonderful moments and successes.

As a way to say thank you, I’m going to do a contest. All you need to do is comment on the blog. Between now and January 3 - I’ll take the commenters and toss em into the randomizer and pick three winners who’ll win one of their choice of my available titles - including paper. Good luck!

So I come downstairs this morning and my husband says to me, “hey, will you clean up the espresso machine? I’ll make some for us when you do. OH and by the way, you appear to have been nominated for a bunch of CAPA awards.” All nonchalant.

So I go to the computer and look through like three dozen emails and there’s a list on the Samhain author loop.

Romantic Suspense:
Taking Chase

Paranormal Erotic Romance: (also nominated, my buddy Megan Hart!)
Cascadia Wolves: Enforcer

Favorite Author (which I have not a snowball’s chance of winning)
Me! (against MaryJanice Davidson and Christine Feehan)

I’m bawling here, I remember seeing the list last year and congratulating my friends and thinking, “one day I’ll be nominated” but Favorite Author? Wow. I’m so blessed. Congratulations to all the nominees, there’s a really wonderful bunch of books and authors nominated!